Border Terror and Crime Clampdown
Tens of thousands of pounds has been seized as part of a week long clampdown on terrorism and organised crime at Manchester Airport.
£35,000 in cash and a number of other seizures have been made during policing operations within North West air and sea ports this week, as officers joined a national campaign to protect the public from the threat of terrorism and serious organised crime.
Starting on Monday, 8 June, police, along with colleagues from Border Force, the National Crime Agency (NCA) and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have carried out multiple briefings to employees working at 14 North West sea ports and airports over the past week, advising them on what they should be looking out for to help tackle the threat of terrorism and serious organised crime.
We went along to the final day of the operation at Manchester Airport:
The week’s activity, which was coordinated nationally by the National Counter Terrorism Policing Headquarters (NCTPHQ), also saw officers from across the UK’s various police forces working closely with partner agencies on operational activities targeting terrorist-related activity and serious organised criminality. Operations were carried out targeting the illegal passage of cash, weapons, drugs, goods and people through British ports linked to criminal or terrorist-related activity.
Activity conducted by agencies across the North West resulted in:
- Cash seizures of £35,000 under the Proceeds of Crime Act - Seized suspected stolen vehicle valued at £20,000 - 128 heavy goods vehicles and other vehicles transiting ports searched - Searched 4 ships and 1 ship container, 46 wagon containers searched - 2 arrests and 24 other offences recorded - Briefed 438 key staff within the maritime sector across the broad range of Ports across the North West on CT Maritime security issues.
Today, Greater Manchester Police come to the end of a week of operations at Manchester Airport, using police and Border Force dogs to detect undeclared large amounts of cash and other materials linked to serious organised crime.
GMP Assistant Chief Constable Ian Wiggett said:
“Whether providing training and support to staff at the ports and airports, or conducting live operations, this week has shown how police forces are working closely with partners to secure our border, in order to protect people.
“This level of activity is not out of the ordinary, and we are not responding to any specific intelligence. This is very much business as usual for our specialist advisers, who are working hard to ensure the safety and security of our communities.”
Tony McMullin, Regional Director, Border Force North, said:
“Border Force officers are the front line in protecting the country.
“Our priority is to ensure the border remains secure from those who seek to do harm while making legitimate travel easier for the many thousands of passengers who use the airport every day.
“Joint working and intelligence sharing are absolutely key to this, and we continue to work closely with our partners to keep the border safe and secure.”